Chapter Text
The key slipped into the lock with ease. Ever since being given a key, Patsy knew that this was the place where she belonged. It had been 6 months after they met, when Delia had taken such delight in wrapping the key as a gift and presenting it to her. Patsy smiled at the memory. Delia had given such a grand speech about the importance of the parcel and her feelings for Patsy, that a house key seemed almost an anti-climax. Patsy had been sure that she was to open the box to find an engagement ring. Her relationship anxieties flooded to the fore. This was too soon. Should they get married? Maybe they should. Perhaps they could wait? In the space of a second Patsy had worked through a dozen scenarios in her mind, finally settled on saying yes to Delia but with the caveat of a long engagement. The puzzled expression Patsy had given at opening the box worried Delia, who quickly became flustered and started rambling about understanding if it was too early in their relationship to take this next step. Patsy started chuckling at the confusion and after inwardly sighing with relief, abated all fears by kissing her girlfriend deeply. Afterwards, they laughed at the incident and Patsy realised then, that everything Delia did, she did wholeheartedly and passionately. Including getting a key cut.
Patsy turned the key in the lock and pushed open the door slowly, her hands were full with overnight bags and shopping. Delia wasn’t expecting her today, but a cancellation of the overnight course Patsy was supposed to attend, had meant giving the brunette an unexpected visit. Remembering her work schedule, she knew that Delia wouldn’t be home from work yet and so thought she would surprise her with dinner. Delia had been working additional shifts over the last month to induct a new member of the team; so the two hadn’t seen as much of each other as they’d have liked. The hallway that greeted her was dark and her eyes started to grow accustomed to the gloom. Unusually there was a light coming from the top of the stairs. In haste, Delia must have forgotten to turn it off as she left for her shift, mused Patsy as she hung her coat on the wooden stand by the front door. As she picked up the numerous bags to make her way through to the kitchen, at the rear of the house, she stepped on something. A T-shirt. She picked it up and examined it. It wasn’t one of hers or Delia’s. How odd. Then suddenly she heard a muffled noise. She froze. It sounded like it came from upstairs. She tilted her head listening. Adrenaline spiking through her. Only silence. Then another noise. This time it was more familiar.
Thoughts flashed through Patsy’s mind. Why would Delia be home and the house be dark? Was she ill? The sing song welsh laugh she heard in the distance, behind an upstairs door told her otherwise. She had only been in the house a matter of moments but gradually a scene was unfurling in front of her. One she didn’t want to look at. One she never thought she would see. Her eyes widened at what she saw. Clearly, trailed up the staircase were discarded clothing. Items removed at intervals, pauses in their owner’s amorous traverse towards the summit. Patsy dropped the bags, her stomach lurched at the thought of who was at the end of the clothing trail. To compound the feeling of nausea, she then heard two distinct voices. A light familiar lilt that made her heart constrict as it responded to a lower, but feminine, giggle.
She paused, locked in a battle of wills. Part of her wanted to flee and block out what she had experienced but the other needed to see what was happening with her own eyes. Not Delia. Not her Delia. As she placed a foot on the stairs she heard a groan. Ice ran through her veins hearing the guttural moan of another woman. Oh god. Her body felt numb as it moved on autopilot up the stairs she knew well. Delia’s stairs. Stairs that Delia had dragged Patsy up so many times before. Stairs that her clothes had been discarded on before. Now someone else was where she should be. Frantic thoughts raced through her mind. Who was she? How long had it been going on? What had she done wrong to push Delia away? She didn’t think her heart could take the emotional assault that was awaiting her but she was pulled onwards by the indescribable force that binds people. Her love was being shredded with every finger nail being run down Delia’s arching back. Every whispered word of endearment erased by each kiss placed on Delia’s skin. Griping the bannister, she hauled herself up the last few steps, tears already blurring her vision. She locked onto the bedroom door, slightly ajar. A strip of light was shining out ready to illuminate her worst fears.
Falling against the wall outside Delia’s room, Patsy tried to block out the sounds that were emanating from within. Passion. Raw emotion of two people new to each other’s bodies. Frenetic lust, that was all consuming. Drawing herself up to the crack in the door, Patsy wiped her eyes and willed herself to look. Her line of sight was obscured but she could clearly see two people unaware of her presence. A slim, toned woman sat straddled, writhing against a responding body. She bit her lip in pleasure, flicking her blonde hair over her left shoulder, as a hand came up to cup her breast. She threw her head back and moaned at the sensation, as her nipple was pinched and teased between expert fingers.
Shuddering with shock at the graphic scene before her, Patsy turned and stumbled down the stairs. The image of Delia’s hand eagerly enjoying another woman was seared into her memory. Delia did everything with passion and this was no exception. Patsy’s arms flailed in front of her trying the grasp something to ground her to reality. It couldn’t be happening. This was unreal. Silent tears flowed as she reached for the front door. Her dropped bags were abandoned, as she fled the house and everyone it contained.